The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District is accepting nominations for the 2025 Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence In Teaching Award. All community members, parents, and stakeholders are invited to nominate. Twelve LSR7 teachers will receive this year’s Excellence In Teaching Award. They will also become a finalist for the Lee’s Summit School District’s annual Teacher of the Year Award. The district’s Teacher of the Year advances to compete in the Missouri State Teacher of the Year program.

Any certificated pre-K-12 teacher, counselor or library media/instructional specialist is eligible to be selected as Teacher of the Year. All candidates must have been employed at least five years with the district. Former Excellence In Teaching Award winners who are nominated again are eligible for consideration to receive one of three Teacher of Distinction awards. Teachers of Distinction also interview for Teacher of the Year.

In addition, LSR7 is once again accepting nominations for the Support Professional of the Year. The award is available for any LSR7 employee who has been employed by the School District for at least one year in a non-teacher certificated role that is not administrative or supervisory is eligible for this award.

The Excellence In Teaching and Teacher of Distinction award recipients will be selected by a committee of LSR7 staff and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce. Six Support Staff of the Year finalists are selected by a roundtable of district administrators. The Excellence In Teaching winners, Teacher of Distinction honorees and Support Professional Excellence Award winners will be announced in the spring and honored at an April reception, where the Teacher of the Year and Support Professional of the Year will be announced.

Nomination forms are available on the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Teacher of the Year website, LSR7.org/TOY. Jan. 13, 2025 is the deadline for nominations.